Chevrolet Sail U-VA now available in new base diesel variant

General Motors have added a new base version to the portfolio of its Chevrolet Sail U-VA diesel. Prior to this, the hatchback was available in only three variants in its diesel line-up compared to four in the petrol one. Chevrolet have priced the base diesel version at Rs. 5.29 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and have also updated its official website with this new addition. Officials at GM have not revealed any details about the base diesel but we expect it to have the same features as on the base petrol Sail U-VA. 

Like the base petrol variant, the diesel variant likely has bare basic interior features like manually operated air-conditioner, fabric seats, tilt adjustable steering wheel, remote boot opener, front power windows and electrically adjustable OVRMs. The exterior will have steel wheels instead of alloys and body coloured bumpers. Powering the base Sail U-VA will be a 1.3-litre diesel mill pumping out 79PS of power and a torque figure of 205Nm. A five-speed manual transmission is employed to transmit power.

According to Chevrolet the base Sail U-VA will have an efficiency figure of 22kmpl (ARAI-certified). Sales of the hatchback have fallen consistently (especially the diesel variants) since its launch and this seems to be an effort by Chevrolet to arrest it. Given that the Sail U-VA is more spacious and Rs 30,000 cheaper than the Maruti Swift besides employing the same engine unit as on the Maruti, the new variant is being looked upon as a fortune changer for the American car maker. (Related: Chevrolet Sail U-VA vs Maruti Suzuki Swift)